The European Union and Schengen Convention countries plan to implement new entry measures starting in mid-2025. From next year, Hong Kong residents and travelers from multiple countries visiting 30 designated European countries will no longer be exempt from visa requirements. Instead, they will be required to apply for an electronic travel authorization through the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) before entering, at a cost of 7 euros (approximately 58.7 Hong Kong dollars), with those aged below 18 and above 70 exempt from fees.
The 30 countries include the 27 EU member states and the Schengen area countries Norway, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein. Exempt visa regions or countries consist of Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Singapore, the United States, the United Kingdom, among others, as well as BNO passport holders. Travelers from these regions must apply for the electronic travel authorization through the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) before entry.
When applying for the electronic travel permit, passports must have a validity period of more than 3 months. Applicants are required to provide their email addresses, fill out an online form, and supply basic personal information such as name, address, travel documents, as well as details of travel to conflict areas and criminal records. Each application incurs a 7-euro fee, with exemptions for those under 18 and over 70, and payments can only be made online. The ETIAS is generally valid for a period of 3 years.
Furthermore, starting from this autumn, when Hong Kong residents enter the aforementioned European countries, they will be required to register their fingerprints and facial images at the border, with their personal data stored by relevant European authorities for a period of 3 years.
Thomas Gnocchi, the head of the European Union Office in Hong Kong and Macau, stated to the media that despite recent political developments affecting relations between Hong Kong and the EU, the visa-exempt status for Hong Kong will remain unchanged. He expressed a warm welcome to Hong Kong residents traveling to the 30 Schengen countries.